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If you had told teenage me that I’d spend my later years designing planner pages and printables, I probably would’ve laughed. But looking back, the signs were there. I loved working on my high school newspaper (The Wildcat Roar)—cutting, pasting, and figuring out how to make everything fit just right. That was my first taste of design, even if I didn’t know that’s what it was.
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Don't you just love that feeling of checking off a box—especially when you're building new habits? The Don’t Break the Chain method turns that simple act into a daily motivator to help you stay consistent and focused.
This idea became famous thanks to comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who used a calendar to track his writing days. Every day he wrote, he marked an X on the date. Over time, those X’s formed a satisfying chain—and his goal became simple: Don’t break it.
You can use this same method to stay consistent with any goal—daily Bible reading, journaling, stretching, drinking water, or even working on creative projects.
About the Free Printable
This free planner page includes 7 (depending on your size) mini habit trackers per sheet, each with:
A space to write your habit or goal
31 small boxes for daily checkmarks or X’s
A clean, uncluttered design that fits easily into your planner setup
You can use all seven trackers for different habits or use one tracker for a single habit across multiple months.
To fit your favorite planner, this printable is available in:
A5
Half Letter
Franklin Covey Compact (FCC)
Personal
Print your preferred size and trim if needed.
Write your habit at the top of each tracker (for example: “Evening walk,” “Prayer time,” or “No sugar”).
Mark each successful day with an X, sticker, or color.
Keep your tracker visible—tuck it in your weekly pages or dashboard.
Enjoy the growing chain of progress!
If you miss a day, don’t stress—just start a new chain and keep going. The goal is consistency, not perfection.
This method keeps you focused on progress instead of pressure. Each mark on your tracker is a small victory that builds momentum over time. Before long, you’ll have a visible chain of success that keeps you motivated to continue.
You can download your free Don’t Break the Chain Habit Tracker below:
Available Sizes: A5 | Half | FCC | Personal
[Download Now]
Ten years ago, I didn’t know a thing about “month on two pages” or “dashboard inserts.” I just knew I needed something to keep my week straight. Back then, my life was a swirl of homeschooling, family meals, church events, and daily responsibilities. I didn’t have time to experiment with fancy systems—I just needed a piece of paper that helped me think clearly.
So, I made one.
It was a week on one page—what we used to call a Week-at-a-Glance (like the old DayTimers). I divided the half-letter sheet into two columns and three rows, giving me lined blocks for each day of the week plus a notes section.
Monday through Thursday filled the left column, while Friday through Sunday and Notes were on the right column. Each block had several lines for writing, enough to fit the busy flow of a week without feeling cramped.
I designed it with ½-inch margins on both the left and right sides, then double-punched the edges so I could always keep the page on the right side of my planner no matter how it was turned. My to-do list insert—half the width of a half-letter sheet—sat neatly on top of the weekly page, aligned to the edge so the right column (Friday through Notes) was still visible underneath.
It created a layered, functional setup: I could glance at my week, flip the to-do list like a tab, and never lose my place. I didn’t migrate tasks or overthink categories. I just wrote things down and crossed them off. It was simple, efficient, and it worked beautifully.
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Looking back, I realize that layout worked because it matched how my brain naturally sorted things:
All in one view. I could see my entire week at a glance—no flipping or scrolling.
Separation of tasks and schedule. My appointments lived on the weekly page; my running list stayed on the to-do sheet.
Half-letter format. The size felt light and manageable—just enough space to plan without being overwhelming.
No perfection pressure. I didn’t worry about stickers, highlightes, or “aesthetic spreads.” I just used it.
It turns out, simplicity breeds consistency. And consistency is what makes a system work.
Then came the planner explosion (or at least for me) —month on two pages, dailies, dashboards, trackers, inserts for everything under the sun. I started exploring, and suddenly my once-simple system became complicated and I had to re-find "planner peace".
Don’t get me wrong—trying different things taught me so much. But sometimes I look back at that first layout and realize: it wasn’t missing anything essential. It gave me focus and flow.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by planner options, remember this—the best layout is the one that fits your life right now. Not the prettiest, not the most popular, but the one that helps you breathe easier when you open it.
And sometimes, that’s a humble half sheet with a few ruled lines and a note section.
I recreated that very first layout for you as a free printable. It’s formatted for letter-size paper.
Week-at-a-Glance layout -print back and front and cut in half.
To-Do List insert - print back and front and cut in half twice (includes cut lines)
After ten years of planning, designing, and creating, I’ve learned that productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about seeing clearly.
If your current planner feels too busy or overdesigned, maybe it’s time to revisit the basics. Sometimes the layout that worked first is the one that still works best.
Try it. Simplify. Cross things off. And remember: progress starts on paper.
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Save & Read It Later!
If you love the idea of getting everything out of your head and onto paper, today’s freebie is for you! These printable GTD-inspired sticky notes are designed to help you capture ideas, to-dos, and reminders quickly so you can stay focused and clear-minded.
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| These notes will print over the edge |
Some of these notes are inspired by the popular Getting Things Done® method created by productivity expert David Allen. GTD encourages you to capture everything that’s on your mind, clarify what it means, and organize it in a way that works for you.
My printable set follows that same rhythm — simple, visual, and practical.
What’s Included in the Freebie
You’ll find several printable 3×3 sticky note layouts to match the GTD process:
Inbox– Write down every idea, errand, or random thought before it slips away.
Next Actions – Keep your focus on what’s actionable right now.
Waiting On – Track items or people you’re waiting on so nothing falls through the cracks.
Someday – Save space for ideas and dreams that can wait for another season.
Weekly Tasks – A flexible page for anything that doesn’t fit neatly elsewhere.
Wish List – For when you're asked "What do you want for Christmas?"
Each note follows a clean, functional design that pairs beautifully with your existing Planner Fun inserts.
These sticky notes are available now on my Freebies Page.
You can download, print, and start using them right away — no signup required.
If you’re part of our Planner Fun Freebies Facebook Group, you may have spotted these a day early! I often drop new designs & exclusives in the group first as a thank-you for being part of our little planner community. It’s also a fun place to share photos and suggestions for future freebies.
How to Print and Use Them
Print the template sheet (with the sticky note boxes outlined).
Place your 3×3 sticky notes inside the boxes.
Run the sheet back through your printer to print the designs directly onto each note.
Store your finished notes in your planner or keep a stack by your desk to capture tasks as they come.
Tip: If your printer feeds pages from the rear tray, test one sheet first to see which way it pulls the paper through.
Visit the Freebies Page to grab your GTD-Inspired Sticky Notes today!
Then hop over to our Planner Fun Freebies Facebook Group to see what’s new, share ideas, and be the first to get next week’s design drop.
Let’s make planning simple, creative, and — most of all — fun!
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After years of trying different planner systems, I’ve learned that some sort of regular review is essential. Looking back over your day, week, or month helps you spot what still needs to be done—and what you meant to do but didn’t.
I do my weekly review on Saturdays, and the first Saturday of each month doubles as my monthly review. Honestly, a quick weekly check often takes care of everything.
On that first Saturday, I do a brain dump. I write down everything I need to do, would like to do, or should do—no matter how far off it might be. Get it all out of your head and onto paper, then start processing it.
You can handle your list item by item, or use a highlighter to mark what must be done in the coming week—appointments, calls, errands, and tasks. From there, transfer those items into your planner.
I usually use a week-on-two-pages layout because it gives me plenty of room to list tasks. If your days are busier, you might prefer daily pages instead.
Next, go back to the rest of your brain dump and highlight what you’d like to do in the next month using a different color. Some things go on a Next Actions list, and others get moved to a Someday list. Whether soon or later, everything finds a place. Once I’ve handled every item, I toss the list and start fresh.
During my review, I check all my lists—trackers, calendars, projects, and anything else that’s important to me. It’s really just a series of quick check-ins to keep everything current and moving forward.
I also look back over the past week for unfinished tasks. I mark each task with an open circle (or box), so it’s easy to spot what’s still pending. Anything unfinished gets migrated to the next week or added to another list, like “Waiting On.”
Each day, I take a few minutes to glance over the previous day and see if there’s anything I missed that could be handled now. This small habit keeps things from piling up and helps me stay on track all week.
In the front of my planner, I keep an inbox to capture things that pop into my head during the week but that I can’t deal with right away. I’ve used plain paper for this and also some nice inserts I’ve made or purchased.
The inbox works like a mini brain dump—a place to catch all those little thoughts and tasks as they come up. When it’s time for your weekly review, process those items the same way you handle your main brain dump. The important thing isn’t how it looks—it’s that you write it down!
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A review routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you make it a habit, it keeps your planner—and your mind—clear and focused. If you’d like some printable planner pages to help you set up your own system, visit my Etsy shop.or browse the free printables on my blog at PlannerFun.com. Start small, stay consistent, and enjoy the calm that comes with being prepared.
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Welcome to Planner Fun Plus! Here I share planning inspiration, printable tools, and faith-filled encouragement. From homemaking to empty nest life, you’ll find ideas to help you stay organized and live with joy. I also design printable planners and sticky notes — many of which are available in my Etsy shop — so you can bring a little extra planning fun into your own life.
